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Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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What is the difference between Benchmade Blue boxes and Black boxes
- Thread starter darklide
- Start date
So the Black Box is more of a gimmick?
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2005
- Messages
- 3,531
They are just appealing to the men in service and mall ninja crowd. Not really a gimmick, since that is a legitimate consumer base, and cops and military do need more specialized knives.
- Joined
- May 27, 2008
- Messages
- 1,295
no, their autos, seatbelt cutters, and tactical knives are black box, more oriented to military/police/rescue.
http://www.benchmade.com/about_knives/anewclass.asp
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2009
- Messages
- 868
Not all red classes are foreign made. According to the catalog for 2009, the Rant Bowie and DPT and Aphid are US made.
alude904
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2012
- Messages
- 546
just as an update for anyone just now coming onto the forum like myself
as of 2010, the red class knives are no longer being produced. they are still out there though if you really wanted one.
Also, i want to add a bit to further get into the details of each of the three main classes (gold, blue, black). with the red class no longer being produced, all benchmade knives are now made in the usa. The gold class is obviously their top of the line being as low as a few hundred to as high as the thousands. these knives are custom production knives that are collaborated with custom knife makers and use some of the best material such as s35vn steel, damascus steel, synthetic material such as carbon fiber, and better frames such as Titanium. (Note) These materials are mostly used in the gold class but aren't limited to it just as some of the lower materials aren't limited to the other classes but are rarely used in the gold. Also, many of the high end balisongs are in this class.
The blue class is where you will find just as unique knives but aren't as much custom knives as their gold brethren. among these knives you will find a few with steels such as s30v and 154cm. you will also find some with titanium frames but many with synthetic materials such as g-10 grips. from my experience with this class, these knives are attractive and have a great sense of craftsmanship to them. some do not even feel like production knives. also, many of these favorite the assisted and nitrous assisted technology. (note) just like the gold class, these and other materials mentioned are widely used but not limited to this class.
The black class is precisely what j85 and otis described it as. This class is rugged and aimed toward military and police. as demeaning to benchmade as it sounds, it is true that this class attracts the "mall ninjas" as j85 puts it. Many of these knives use the cheaper steels with 154cm being the average best for this class. many of the materials that make up the frame range from cheep stainless steel liners to aluminum or even plastic grips/frames. With military and law enforcement being the target consumer in this class, this class houses a huge diversity of knives consisting of almost all models. (manual, assisted, and auto folding. seat belt cutters, axes, close quarter self defense blades, you name it.) Regardless of the j85's mall ninja comment and the fact that there are lower quality materials used in some knives, this class houses some great knives which on occasion can even be more expensive then some blue class knives. While they do have a production line feel, some of the better knives in this class are very well built and reliable. (consider this class' target consumer).
That is most of my knowledge on the three main benchmade classes. granite there are four more. if i have misinterpreted some information or left something out that anyone wishes to add, please feel free. This information is gathered from my experiences and what i've gathered from their website and by no means am an expert.
as of 2010, the red class knives are no longer being produced. they are still out there though if you really wanted one.
Also, i want to add a bit to further get into the details of each of the three main classes (gold, blue, black). with the red class no longer being produced, all benchmade knives are now made in the usa. The gold class is obviously their top of the line being as low as a few hundred to as high as the thousands. these knives are custom production knives that are collaborated with custom knife makers and use some of the best material such as s35vn steel, damascus steel, synthetic material such as carbon fiber, and better frames such as Titanium. (Note) These materials are mostly used in the gold class but aren't limited to it just as some of the lower materials aren't limited to the other classes but are rarely used in the gold. Also, many of the high end balisongs are in this class.
The blue class is where you will find just as unique knives but aren't as much custom knives as their gold brethren. among these knives you will find a few with steels such as s30v and 154cm. you will also find some with titanium frames but many with synthetic materials such as g-10 grips. from my experience with this class, these knives are attractive and have a great sense of craftsmanship to them. some do not even feel like production knives. also, many of these favorite the assisted and nitrous assisted technology. (note) just like the gold class, these and other materials mentioned are widely used but not limited to this class.
The black class is precisely what j85 and otis described it as. This class is rugged and aimed toward military and police. as demeaning to benchmade as it sounds, it is true that this class attracts the "mall ninjas" as j85 puts it. Many of these knives use the cheaper steels with 154cm being the average best for this class. many of the materials that make up the frame range from cheep stainless steel liners to aluminum or even plastic grips/frames. With military and law enforcement being the target consumer in this class, this class houses a huge diversity of knives consisting of almost all models. (manual, assisted, and auto folding. seat belt cutters, axes, close quarter self defense blades, you name it.) Regardless of the j85's mall ninja comment and the fact that there are lower quality materials used in some knives, this class houses some great knives which on occasion can even be more expensive then some blue class knives. While they do have a production line feel, some of the better knives in this class are very well built and reliable. (consider this class' target consumer).
That is most of my knowledge on the three main benchmade classes. granite there are four more. if i have misinterpreted some information or left something out that anyone wishes to add, please feel free. This information is gathered from my experiences and what i've gathered from their website and by no means am an expert.
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2012
- Messages
- 1,943
Blue class is for sure a performance class in knife standards, the gold is show case class, although their are some great looking blue class especially considering the balisongs BM has made.
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2010
- Messages
- 64
If you're a flag-waving, apple pie-baking, GOP-voting, Veteran-handshaking, Gun-owning American, you wouldn't touch a Red class with a ten mile pole.
Bet you'd be awfully surprised to learn that America almost adopted the P08 Luger (albeit in .45ACP, if I recall) before WWI...
My point? If someone makes a good product, buy it and take advantage of its strengths. I've never used a BM red box knife, so I make no comment as to their quality, but you get my point.
I'm as much a red-blooded American as anyone, but I buy and ride Japanese motorcycles. Why? Because Harleys would make a poor excuse for a sportbike, and I don't enjoy cruisers enough to drop that much coin on one. The Japanese have us beat when it comes to fast bikes, so I use them and enjoy them immensely. Does that make me any less American than a Harley rider? My Spyderco is stamped "Seki-City Japan." Am I less patriotic for owning it?
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2010
- Messages
- 64
Relax, Basher. I'm just being sarcastic about the "buy American" issue. The jingoistic attitude of a lot of Americans knife owners gives me the impression that US knife companies are pulling manufacturing back into the COTUS because of fear of the perception of being un-American.
I'm not even American myself. I enjoy a Chinese knife as much as an American one. I own a Taiwan-made red class Benchmade 10200, bought just before BM discontinued the red class. It a shame, because the Ambush is an outstanding folder.
I'm not even American myself. I enjoy a Chinese knife as much as an American one. I own a Taiwan-made red class Benchmade 10200, bought just before BM discontinued the red class. It a shame, because the Ambush is an outstanding folder.
alude904
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2012
- Messages
- 546
Yeah... ive always wondered why some of those hard core knife enthusiasts are against anything not american. Especially when the knife is assembled in america but the steel comes from japan or another foreign country.
Also, while im not one of those people, i do think there is a little less quality control when it comes to china. Not saying all knives from china are bad though. Even still, some of my favorite knives are boker plus that are made in either china or taiwan.
A person shouldnt look at where its made. They should look at the materials used. A well heat treated vg-10 steel wrapped in an all titanium frame lock knife made in china is fine with me.
Also, while im not one of those people, i do think there is a little less quality control when it comes to china. Not saying all knives from china are bad though. Even still, some of my favorite knives are boker plus that are made in either china or taiwan.
A person shouldnt look at where its made. They should look at the materials used. A well heat treated vg-10 steel wrapped in an all titanium frame lock knife made in china is fine with me.
Bet you'd be awfully surprised to learn that America almost adopted the P08 Luger (albeit in .45ACP, if I recall) before WWI...
My point? If someone makes a good product, buy it and take advantage of its strengths. I've never used a BM red box knife, so I make no comment as to their quality, but you get my point.
I'm as much a red-blooded American as anyone, but I buy and ride Japanese motorcycles. Why? Because Harleys would make a poor excuse for a sportbike, and I don't enjoy cruisers enough to drop that much coin on one. The Japanese have us beat when it comes to fast bikes, so I use them and enjoy them immensely. Does that make me any less American than a Harley rider? My Spyderco is stamped "Seki-City Japan." Am I less patriotic for owning it?
Eh, I buy American when I can, but I really don't like giving my money to someone for a bad product just because they decide to slap it together in the US.
That's my point.
@DeepFried: My bad. Dang near impossible to tell sarcasm via text, as I'm sure you know.
